Biocompatible Hydrophilic CdSe Quantum Dots: Single-Step Synthesis

Abstract

ABSTRACT We herein present a simple one-step synthesis of CdSe quantum dots in aqueous medium using Na2SeSO3 as a source of Se and PVP and sodium succinate as the surfactant. The isolated orange to dark-red particles are re-dispersible in alcoholic and aq. medium. The optical spectra indicated blue shift of >150 nm. The hydrophilic quantum dots show excellent FWHM of approximately 44–60 nm in their photoluminescence spectra and the emission bands are centered around 570–590 nm. Absorption spectra maxima are observed in the range of 530–550 nm. The particle size from absorption wavelength is calculated to be about 5 nm and the XRD indicate cubic CdSe with impurities of selenium. It is observed that Se impurities enhanced PL intensity. Facile synthesis of CdSe QD has increasing value in biomedical applications.